BL Lacerta is an improvisation ensemble formed at North Texas State University in 1976. The group has performed with distinguished artists such as John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, and David Behrman as well as a variety of dance ensembles, actors and visual artists. BL Lacerta is still active today with original member David Anderson performing with an incarnation of the group at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Anderson has his own site here, where he talks about the history and current events of the group as well as a personal musical history with beginnings at the University of North Texas Center for Electronic Music studying with Merril Ellis.
The music on this album is strictly unedited and improvised. It was recorded live at the Second National Tuba-Euphonium Symposium-Workshop and North Texas State University Art Gallery. Taken from the back cover-
"The BL Lacerta Ensemble, named for a unique star in the constellation Lacerta (lizard), combines fundamental orchestral sounds of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion together with invented instruments, electronically generated timbres and the rich sonic capabilities of the human voice....
The music of this album represents two different approaches to the art of improvisation. "Free improvisations" are, as the name implies, totally free and spontaneous creations in which the performers rely on their musicianship and sensitivity to provide continuity and form. The majority of pieces on this album are free improvisations. "Character improvisations" are also created spontaneously but in this case the musicians agree beforehand to attempt to suggest a certain mood or style as they play."
This is a must have for anyone with an interest in improvisation ensembles. Download it here.
No comments:
Post a Comment